Book Review: Taking Shots (Assassins #1) by Toni Aleo

Elli Fisher has never thought she was good enough, let it be her job, her weight, her love life, nothing. That is until she meets Shea Adler. After doing a promotional shoot for the NHL team, the Assassins, she meets the hunky hockey player who shoots a puck, shattering her world.

Shea Adler was tired of the life he was living outside of the rink. The girls, the money blowing, the drinking, everything had to stop and it all did when he met Eleanor Fisher. He had never met anyone like her. She was feisty, witty, shy, and simply gorgeous. When he laid eyes on her, it was as if he was taking the hardest hit of his life into the boards, and he had to have her. Elli is a little skeptical of Shea, but he knows that they were meant to be together, and he needed her in his life.

Can Elli throw her insecurities out the window and love Shea with everything inside of her, or will she let a past relationship, and her family ruin any chance of her being happy.

My Review:

Dear Ms. Aleo,

I would like to know what YOU think a size 10 looks like. Do you picture fat rolls hanging out the sides of this 600 lb woman? News flash: As a size 12, I’m small. I’m no size 2, as your main character believed was the only size that could attract a man, but I do just fine. As someone who body shames herself (as most woman do,) I didn’t need your input on how I was thick and almost plus sized. No, I’m sorry. That was said for a size TEN. I don’t even want to know what you think of me as a size 12. To say I was highly offended is an understatement. I don’t want other females reading this book and thinking that’s appropriate to say to others or to feel like utter crap. Please learn what is appropriate and what needs to stay quiet.

The characters in this book were beyond underdeveloped. The dialogue and interactions seemed like something you would witness in a movie with a D-rated cast. Nobody had their own personality, the characters fell in love within 2 seconds of laying eyes on each other, everyone was super bubbly and hyperactive, the main female SUCKED, and there was just no glue to stick the pages together. I swear to God, if somebody giggled in this book one more time, I was going to lose it.

The main female character in this book was AWFUL. I’m sorry, awful isn’t even a strong enough word. She SUCKED DONKEY YOU KNOW WHAT. Obviously, I’m BEYOND offended over this female lead. She had issues all over the place. She had weight issues, personality issues, she didn’t think she was good enough for any man EVER. Of course, at a size 10, she was a freaking hippo….so OF COURSE SHE WASN’T GOOD ENOUGH FOR ANY MAN OR WOMAN EVER. THANKS FOR THAT. Basically, she stayed a weak little mouse with her eyes downcast because she thought she was fat and ugly and mattered nothing to the world and could never be loved. I HATED HER. I don’t even care that she falls in love and BLAH BLAH BLAH. I HATED HER. I HATED the messages in this book. Seriously, I just want to claw my eyes out right now. Or hers.

Honestly, I don’t even care if the other books are better than this one. I will NEVER read anything by this author again. Realistically, I understand that no harm was probably meant. I get it. Writing a story, your character has issues. I get it. That doesn’t mean I respect it. As a woman, I am SO beyond offended. I’m literally sitting here SEETHING mad. You don’t even know. Do not create stories or characters that body shame. Do not create weak females who matter little to the world. We get it. Females (and males) know we already have body issues (whether real or mental.) We don’t need you to point it out to us. NO THANKS.

Crossed Out (Book 1 Crossed Series) by Kim Baccellia
Published May 17th, 2010
Genre: YA/Paranormal/Fantasy
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8423309-crossed-out
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